Problem: I need to create multiple shapes. In the old Excel, I could double-click a shape icon and then draw multiple copies of the shape without going back to the menu. Now, I can't seem to double-click the lightning bolt in the Shapes menu.
Strategy: Microsoft came up with a solution to this problem, although it is as subtle as the double-click trick in the old Excel.
It helps to draw one shape first, format it, and then right-click and select Set as Default Shape. This will ensure that the new shapes have the same color as this shape. Follow these steps:
- Select Insert, Shapes dropdown.
- Right-click any shape and choose Lock Drawing Mode. The mouse pointer changes to a thin plus sign.
- Find a shape, right-click, and select Lock Drawing Mode.
- To draw a default size shape, click the mouse pointer anywhere on the worksheet. To draw a shape of a different size, click and drag to draw the shape.
- When you are done drawing shapes, press the Esc key or select another worksheet to exit Drawing mode.
The lighter drawings shown below are default drawings created with a single click in the upper corner of the shape. The darker drawings required a click and drag to size.
- Shazam!